2024 Ottawa stabbing

2024 Ottawa stabbing
Location	324 Berrigan Dr, Barrhaven, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Date	March 6, 2024 (2024-03-06)
Attack type	Stabbing
Weapons	Knife-like edged weapon
Deaths	6
Injured	1
Accused	Febrio De-Zoysa

On March 6, 2024, the Wickramasinghe family, Sri Lankan immigrants, were fatally stabbed inside of their house in Barrhaven, a suburb of Ottawa, Canada. Four children were killed, along with their mother, and a male family friend. Their father was injured. It was the worst mass killing in the city's recent history.

Febrio De-Zoysa, 19, a Sri Lankan former Algonquin College student residing with the family, was arrested in connection with the incident, and was charged with six counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted murder.

Background

The seven victims were Sri Lankan immigrants who were "new to Canada." All except one were members of the same family; the remaining victim was a family acquaintance who was also living in the home. The surviving victim was the father of the family, while those killed included his wife and four children, aged 7, 4, 3 years, and the youngest 2 months. The two oldest children were in Grade Two and junior kindergarten, respectively, at Monsignor Paul Baxter School.

Incident

Emergency responders received calls to 911 shortly before 11 pm on March 6, 2024. Authorities responded within several minutes.

Investigation

Police reported not having any previous interactions with the suspect or the victims.

The student arrested in connection with the event appeared in court on the afternoon of March 7.

Reactions

Mark Sutcliffe, the mayor of Ottawa, called the event "one of the most shocking incidents of violence in our city's history." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the event a "terrible violence".

A memorial was set up in Palmadeo Park, close to the location of the event.

See also

• 2022 Saskatchewan stabbings